This report highlights the outcomes of an 18-month pilot project, “Torture Prevention Ambassadors for the Asia Pacific”, implemented by the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) and the APT to strengthen the capacity of National Human Rights Institutions in the Asia Pacific region to prevent torture and other ill-treatment.
The project draws on two key factors: the unique role that NHRIs can play in preventing torture and the potential of individual actors for change to prevent torture and ill-treatment at an institutional and country level.
In total, nine Torture Prevention Ambassadors, representing seven NHRIs, were selected for the project. With ongoing support and guidance, the Ambassadors devised and implemented their own projects, addressing root causes of torture and ill treatment in their countries:
- Australia: Changing minds, changing laws: Addressing cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of asylum seekers
- Korea: From reacting to abuse and ill-treatment in detention to preventing it
- Maldives: A platform for strengthening the national OPCAT system
- Mongolia: Enforcing the law, preventing torture
- Mongolia: A manual for preventive monitoring
- New Zealand: Expanding the scope and reach of OPCAT monitoring
- Philippines: Partnering with police for prevention
- Timor Leste: Tackling torture in Timor Leste
